Scott County Sex Offenders

Scott County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and managed locally by the Scott County Sheriff's Office in Shakopee. Scott County is a fast-growing south metro county with a population that has more than doubled in recent decades, making predatory offender tracking an active part of local law enforcement work. Residents can use free state databases to search for sex offenders registered in Scott County or contact the Sheriff's Office for more details. This page covers the key resources and processes specific to Scott County.

Scott County Sheriff's Office

The Scott County Sheriff's Office in Shakopee oversees predatory offender registration and community notification for the county. Under Minnesota Statute 243.166, all sex offenders living, working, or attending school in Scott County must register with local law enforcement. They must update their registration within five days of any address change. Not complying is a felony. The Sheriff coordinates with the Minnesota BCA to keep the statewide predatory offender registry accurate and current. Contact the Sheriff at (952) 496-8300 or go to scottcountymn.gov/sheriff.

Scott County has seen rapid population growth over the past two decades. Communities like Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, and Jordan have grown significantly, which means the Sheriff's Office manages registration for a growing and diverse population. City police departments in these communities work alongside the Sheriff on registration and notification. Rural townships in the southern part of the county are covered directly by the Sheriff's patrol division.

Search Scott County Sex Offenders Online

The Minnesota DOC runs the main public database for Level 3 sex offenders statewide: DOC Public Registrant Search.

Search by name, city, or zip code. For Scott County, try Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, or Jordan to find offenders registered in those cities.

The BCA maintains the complete predatory offender registry at por.state.mn.us. Reach the BCA at (651) 793-7070. Only Level 3 records are visible to the public. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are registered and monitored but do not appear in public searches. This means the count of registered sex offenders in Scott County is higher than what you can find online.

Scott County's growth has brought more diversity in the types of neighborhoods where offenders may register, from suburban developments to rural acreages. That range makes it useful to search multiple city names and zip codes when using the DOC tool rather than searching for the county as a whole.

Community Notification in Scott County

When a Level 3 sex offender moves into Scott County, the Sheriff's Office initiates a community notification process under Minnesota Statute 244.052. Notifications can include flyers distributed near the offender's address, alerts to local schools and day cares, and contact with neighborhood associations. The DOC page at mn.gov explains how the statewide notification framework operates.

Level 2 notifications are more limited. They may go to organizations likely to encounter the offender, but not necessarily the broader neighborhood. Level 1 offenders receive no public notification. Because Scott County has a large number of families with children, the Sheriff's Office tends to take community notification seriously, particularly near schools and parks.

Note: If you have a safety concern, call the Scott County Sheriff directly. The online databases are a starting point but may not reflect every registered offender in the county.

Additional Resources for Scott County Residents

VINE is a free alert service for custody changes at Scott County corrections facilities. Register at vinelink.com or by calling 1-877-664-8463. When an offender's status changes in the jail system, you can get a phone, text, or email alert. Anyone can use the service.

For offenders who may have moved out of Scott County, the National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov lets you search registries from all 50 states through one federal tool run by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Court records for sex offense cases in Scott County are available through the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov. You can search for case information by name or case number to review charge and sentencing history for cases heard in Scott County District Court.

Cities in Scott County

Scott County includes several growing cities. All sex offenders in these communities register through the county Sheriff and the state BCA registry.

Communities in Scott County include Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, Jordan, Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Elko New Market. Sex offenders in all these areas are registered through the Scott County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota predatory offender registry.

Nearby Counties

Scott County borders several other counties. If you are searching for a sex offender who may have moved, check these neighboring areas.